Tot-pot

ABSTRACT

A device consisting of a standard size toilet seat, hinged at the back and attached by suitable hardware to a smaller, child size toilet seat with molded handles, which can then be attached, through use of the same hardware, to a standard public use toilet, and lid. The device can be configured to allow use by an adult, or by a toddler. The Tot-Pot portion of the configuration can be attached directly to an existing adult toilet seat, or be joined with an adult seat for joint installation. The device is specifically designed and intended for use in the public restroom arena, and will fit all standard toilet devices in use, and by providing handles for ease and sanitation in lifting and for child support, a splash guard for protection of leakage of waste onto the adult seat, and a hinged back such as to provide an oblique, obtuse angle when raised, sanitation concerns of dual use are alleviated.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/880,525, filed on Jan. 16, 2007, the entire text and claims of which are incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1) Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the field of toilets, and more particularly to the area of the conversion of the standard available adult toilet seat to a size more accessible to small children. The invention is to be used as an alteration/modification of the common public toilet facility to a convertible seat arrangement, allowing parents of small children to place their children on said toilet seat with ease, and without the attendant difficulty of ‘holding them up’ while the child uses the commode.

2) Prior Art of the Invention

The concept of providing a dedicated toilet seat for children is not new. Many different designs have attempted to resolve the size difficulty, most by providing a smaller toilet seat ring for installation immediately upon or over the standard, existing seat. Many are specifically designed to be removable, and appear to be most applicable to temporary, home use, or as a traveling potty. (See Zhou D521,618, or Bernsley D485,891; see Wilson U.S. Pat. No. 7,290,296).

Additionally, handles for toilet seat lifting have been previously designed. These appear to be an attempt to address issues of sanitation, and not support of the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problems of parents dealing with small children in a public setting are myriad. Chief among these is the necessity of frequent ‘potty’ breaks for children, some of whom are in the process of potty training, and others, who may be so trained, of a size that typically available public bathroom facilities are unsuitable for their use. The dimensions of typical public rest-room facilities are arranged to fit the most common user—an adult.

This problem has been recognized in connection with the use of the urinal facility in the typical men's restroom. Designers have recognized the difficulty of small boys standing tall enough to ‘reach’ the urinal basin, and have thus installed a number of different designs of urinals that allow persons of small stature to net result is that toddlers and small children present a particularly difficult situation when restroom visits are necessary. It is often necessary for the parent to actually physically hold the child to prevent him/her from falling into the toilet bowl.

Additionally, and without a doubt, the process of ‘potty training’ is a difficult one for parents and children alike. The child needs to learn the proper and appropriate behavior and customs associated with the use of a toilet facility. Most of the time, this takes place at home, and often, the child is encouraged by the use of a utilitarian device—the child's potty seat, the use of which is devoted to solely him or her.

However, it doesn't take much to take ‘one step forward, and two steps backward.’ If in fact, due to travel, a night out, etc. the parent and child are away from home, it is unlikely that the assigned potty seat will be available for use. But, such a device can in fact be available in every public toilet and restroom in an airport, train station, or restaurant—through installation of the Tot-Pot, which attaches to a standard commercial toilet.

As indicated, even children who are potty-trained, but still of a young age, are often physically unable to use the standard-size toilet facility available in most public venues. However, installation of the Tot-Pot, will provide a safe, convenient alternative for the child, enabling him/her to use the public facility, without removing an adult size toilet from use.

Accordingly, the Tot-Pot device is fitted to an existing toilet, but is convertible, ie. it can be raised and lowered when necessary for use. Therefore, the toilet facilities can be adapted to the situation. The design of the seat is such that when raised, it will provide no impediment to normal use of the toilet. But, when lowered, it provides the appropriate sizing for a small child to use the toilet. Additionally, side handles are provided for ease of use, and for providing support for the child during the activity.

In addition to providing a benefit to small children and their parents, the device provides a benefit to the providers of public restroom facilities (restaurant, airport, schools, auditoriums), in that it enables them to provide a method of use for a segment of their customers, while at the same time enabling them to avoid exclusive commitment of it's public toilet areas to service what is admittedly a smaller percentage of the public.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 9 Drawings on 5 Sheets

FIG. 1: (Illustration A) A depiction of the Tot-Pot seat in assembled configuration, demonstrating heavy-duty mounting hardware for public toilet installation, Tot-Pot seat with drip lip, molded side handles (potentially of variable size) attached to standard public toilet with closed front.

FIG. 2: Standard seat dimensions, open front.

FIG. 3: Tot-Pot seat dimensions/configuration, open front.

FIG. 4: Side view of Tot-Pot configuration, including depiction of installation on public type toilet, with side handles, child seating surface and lid. Open front configuration

FIG. 5: Standard seat dimensions, closed front.

FIG. 6: Tot-Pot seat dimensions/configuration, closed front.

FIG. 7: Side view of Tot-Pot configuration, including depiction of installation on public type toilet, with side handles, child seating surface and lid. Closed front configuration

FIG. 8: Depiction of the Tot-Pot seat in assembled configuration, demonstrating heavy-duty mounting hardware for public toilet installation, Tot-Pot seat with drip lip, molded side handles potentially of variable size) attached to standard public toilet with open front.

FIG. 9: Depiction of the Tot-Pot seat in assembled configuration, demonstrating heavy-duty mounting hardware for public toilet installation, Tot-Pot seat with drip lip, molded side handles of an alternate design (potentially of variable size) attached to standard public toilet with closed front.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The Tot-Pot is constructed with generally accepted and known manufacturing technique commonly used in the manufacture of toilet seats today. It is a molded unit, with handles of alternate design molded into the seat itself, so that the structure of the seat includes said handles.

The mounting hardware is of standard design, widely available in the plumbing industry, and is of commercial, heavy-duty construction so as to enable installation on public toilets with frequent use.

The design of the Tot-Pot contemplates use of two separate seating areas, a regular sized adult seat, and in addition a smaller dimensioned child's seat, to be joined in such a fashion as to permit the conversion of the toilet to one use or the other.

The Tot-Pot will be attached to the toilet bowl area in the standard form-through use of a mounting bracket and hardware. Such hardware is of standard, typically used design, but will be of such length as to permit the installation of: the standard adult seat, the Tot-Pot seat, and a toilet lid. Such installation can occur on the existing forms for such installation on said toilet bowl. Accordingly, it is possible to install the Tot-Pot over existing adult seats (assuming such are of a uniform planar surface), or to provide a joint Tot-Pot/adult seat unit for such installation.

In use, the proper method of operation will be self-evident. The user can configure the unit to accommodate a small child, by leaving the child seat down, or can configure for use of an adult, but raising the child seat. In most public toilet settings, the piping arrangement behind the seat is of such design that it will be possible to raise said Tot-Pot seat to an angle oblique to the back of the user, and thus prevent any concern regarding sanitation or hygiene relative to the dual use of the device.

A splash-guard (drip-lip) is provided on the Tot-Pot seat portion of the device, to assist in enabling the stream of urine to deposit directly into the toilet bowl, and to avoid leakage directly onto the underlying adult seat area.

The TOT-POT can be configured in two ways: 1) to fit on an existing toilet seat via clamps, or 2); a joint unit—the regular seat along with the toddler attachment, both of which are attached to the toilet base via standard mounting brackets. As a result, it can be used on any standard toilet seat in use in the United States today, and can be fitted to existing toilets, or configured with new construction.

The molded handles provide easier seating and stability for the child, and ease in lifting or lowering the device as needed.

The TOT-POT provides a service to the public, without requiring an untenable investment of time or capital from owners of buildings that provide public toilets. It enables the providers of public rest-room facilities to serve a portion of it's public without converting it's entire facility. Such use will likely find greater efficacy in locations such as restaurants, public arenas, auditoriums, travel locations (airports, train stations), as opposed to locations such as bars/taverns, etc. 

1. A claim of application of child toilet seat design elements to a new application.
 2. A claim of unique application to the public rest-room facility, by virtue of it's intended construction to fit public toilet design.
 3. A claim of conversion of facilities available, and via use of the item, transforms it's applicability to an entirely new set of users.
 4. A claim of unique use of molded side handles for support, as well as use in lifting and lowering the device.
 5. A claim of ornamental design of a convertible child toilet seat application, for use in public facilities.
 6. A claim of sanitation design elements in a dual adult/child seat application with the use of splash guard, separate handles, oblique, obtuse angle when raised. 